United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Chinese flight attendants booted from US for turtle smuggling
Two Chinese flight attendants were fined and will be deported from the US after being convicted of smuggling protected turtles.
They used their international stopovers in Los Angeles to smuggle spotted and box turtles to China which fetch large sums on the black market.
Chinese Eastern Airlines crew members Huaqian Qu, 41, and Renfeng Gao, 31 had pleaded guilty to smuggling charges and potentially faced a prison term of up to five years.
Prosecutors said the pair had been smuggling turtles for some time and were caught when an eagle-eyed TSA agent spotted the reptiles in Qu’s luggage at Los Angeles Airport.
The TSA agent ascertained they were illegally smuggling ‘based on his enthusiasm for turtles as a teenager’ court documents said.
The two flight attendants were attempting to smuggle a total of 45 turtles.
As well as the fine they received probation and will be booted from the US within three days
Related News Stories:
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Tricia Handley-Hughes of Inteletravel announces the location for the TravelQuest 2025 conference
Insights from James Ferrara on Inteletravel’s Growth and Future
Tricia Handley-Hughes on Inteletravel’s Growth and Challenges
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Woman dies after getting ‘entangled’ in baggage carousel
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Protestors now targeting Amsterdam cruise calls